Men's Body Satisfaction Research Articles

Differential media effects on male body satisfaction and mood

ObjectivePrevious research has shown that idealised images of men in the media have the capacity to trigger body dissatisfaction in male viewers. However, little is known about these effects across diverse media types. This study compared the effects of different media on men's body satisfaction and mood within a social comparison theory framework.MethodYoung adult men (N = 110) were randomly assigned to view images of scenery or idealised depictions of males across four media conditions including television commercials, music video clips, still images where the model was posed, or still images where the model was active. Men completed pre‐ and post‐test measures of state body satisfaction and mood, and a post‐test measure of social comparison.ResultsMen who viewed television commercials reported a significant drop in body satisfaction and greater social comparison. No effects were found across the other media types.ConclusionOur findings suggest that televised depictions may be particularly detrimental to men's body image, which may be due to increased social comparison processes.

Does Men's Body Satisfaction with Specific Parts Differentially Affect Body-image-related Mental Distress by Sexual Orientation? a Comparison of Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Men in Taiwan

Introduction Prior research on body-image-related issues has mainly focused on the relationship between overall body satisfaction and health-related outcomes, particularly among Western women. However, there is still a paucity of information on whether body satisfaction with specific body parts is differentially associated with body-image-related mental distress, especially across gay, bisexual, and heterosexual men in Taiwan. Objectives To Identify the differences by sexual orientation regarding the relationship between satisfaction with specific body parts and body-image-related mental distress among Taiwanese men. Aims To develop effective interventions to reduce mental distress related to body dissatisfaction in men. Methods A total of 665 male participants were recruited via a popular electronic bulletin board system frequented by Taiwanese youth. Results Increased levels of satisfaction with weight were significantly associated with lower odds of body-image-related mental distress across gay, bisexual, and heterosexual men (AOR=0.38, 0.31, and 0.56, respectively). Gay men who were more satisfied with their height (AOR=0.57) and body fat (AOR=0.28), as well as heterosexual men who were more satisfied with their facial features (AOR=0.51), muscle (AOR=0.53), and body fat (AOR=0.55), were significantly less likely to have body-image-related mental distress than their counterparts. Conclusions Higher levels of satisfaction with various specific body parts were associated with reduced risk of body-image-related mental distress. Further, these associations varied differentially across gay, bisexual, and heterosexual men. Future research may explore the possible mechanisms through which satisfaction with specific body parts influences men's body-image-related mental distress. Accordingly, interventions could be tailored for men of different sexual orientations.

Correlates of body image in Polish weight trainers

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine body image and body satisfaction in Polish adult men involved in resistance training and to investigate their relationships with objective anthropometric and training characteristics.MethodsThe study included 176 males aged 18–31 years with 1–14 years resistance training experience. The Figure Rating Scale, Body Satisfaction Scale and a self-designed questionnaire were administered.ResultsApproximately 62% of the participants would like to be more muscular, only 29% accepted their appearance and 9% would like to be less muscular. The body selected as the personal ideal (<i>M</i> = 5.34) was less muscular than the body considered by the participants to be ideal by other men (normative body; <i>M</i> = 6.07) and was more muscular than the body thought to be most attractive to women (<i>M</i> = 5.10). Actual and ideal body muscularity correlated positively with age and body mass, height and BMI. Dissatisfaction with trunk and motor characteristics correlated positively with ideal body and the body considered most attractive to women as well as with the discrepancy indices between the above factors and the actual body.ConclusionsMen regularly involved in resistance training were found to strive for a muscular physique. The normative body, the physique believed to be desired by other men, was more muscular than what was considered preferential to women. However, the latter constitutes a stronger determinant of the level of body satisfaction in men engaged in resistance training.

Media's influence on the drive for muscularity in undergraduates

Although research has found that body ideals presented by the media influence women's body dissatisfaction, less is known about media's influence on men's body satisfaction. An online survey examining media use, the drive for muscularity, and internalization of appearance and body shape ideals was given to a sample of 311 participants comprised of both men and women. Results indicated (a) the more time men and women reported watching television, the higher their reported drive for muscularity (b) total hours of viewing sports-related, image-focused, and entertainment television related to increased drive for muscularity in women (c) drive for muscularity in men related to watching image-focused television and reading men's health magazines, and (d) internalization of athletic attitudes towards appearance mediated the relationship between total television watched and drive for muscularity in both genders. Clinicians may wish to utilize these findings when treating men and women suffering from drive for muscularity and body dysmorphia.

Short term exposure to attractive and muscular singers in music video clips negatively affects men's body image and mood

Viewing idealized images has been shown to reduce men's body satisfaction; however no research has examined the impact of music video clips. This was the first study to examine the effects of exposure to muscular images in music clips on men's body image, mood and cognitions. Ninety men viewed 5min of clips containing scenery, muscular or average-looking singers, and completed pre- and posttest measures of mood and body image. Appearance schema activation was also measured. Men exposed to the muscular clips showed poorer posttest levels of anger, body and muscle tone satisfaction compared to men exposed to the scenery or average clips. No evidence of schema activation was found, although potential problems with the measure are noted. These preliminary findings suggest that even short term exposure to music clips can produce negative effects on men's body image and mood.

Setting the bar: Divergent sociocultural norms for women's and men's ideal appearance in real-world contexts

Research suggests that exposure to sociocultural norms for idealized appearance can reduce both women's and men's body satisfaction. Despite comparable effects for both genders in the lab, in the “real-world” women's body satisfaction is chronically lower than men's. Real-world gender differences may arise from discrepancies in men's and women's everyday exposure to norms. Across eight studies using a variety of content analysis, survey, and experimental methods, we examine differences in sociocultural norms for ideal appearance pertaining to women and men in “daily life” contexts. We demonstrate that appearance norms encountered by women in daily life are more rigid, homogenous and pervasive than those for men, and that more messages implying the attainability of the ideal appearance are directed at women. Finally, experimental results show that homogeneous, rigid norms (like those typically encountered by women) are more harmful to body image than heterogeneous, flexible norms (like those typically encountered by men).

Male Body Image: The Role of Muscle Magazine Exposure, Body Mass Index, and Social Comparison in Men's Body Satisfaction

Unrealistic images of male beauty are on the rise (e.g., Baghurst, Hollander, Nardella, & Haff, 2006). However, research on male body image tends to assume that the same theoretical models used to account for body satisfaction in women are appropriate for men (e.g., McCabe & Ricciardelli, 2004). Few have tested the assumption that female-typical models can be applied to men. Three variables have proven instrumental in accounting for body satisfaction in women: (a) exposure to relevant content, (b) BMI, and (c) social comparison (e.g., Blond, 2008). We present an exploratory study, using path modeling, to simultaneously assess the relative impact of each of these on body satisfaction in young men.

Desiring the muscular ideal: Men's body satisfaction in the United States, Ukraine, and Ghana.

Failure to achieve a lean and muscular build, a prominent characteristic of masculinity for many men, may lead to body dissatisfaction. In four studies the authors used silhouette measures to assess men’s satisfaction with their muscularity and body fat. Across studies, many U.S. men (51‐71%) were not satisfied with their body fat level. Further, over 90% of U.S. undergraduate men wanted to be more muscular, as did many Ukrainian (69%) and Ghanaian (49%) men. In the United States, men’s ratings of their current and ideal muscularity were associated with endorsement of the male role, and many men desired increased muscularity for reasons related to increased dominance and attractiveness to women. These results suggest widespread desire for increased muscularity among men.

Brief Report: Exposure to Muscular Male Models Decreases Men?s Body Satisfaction

The current study was designed to examine the effect of exposure to muscular ideal bodies on body satisfaction in men. College men (N= 104) at a medium-sized mid-south university completed the Body Assessment (BA)scale, which measures body satisfaction, before and after exposure to either muscular or nonmuscular advertisements. BA scores were examined using a repeated measures (pre and post) ANOVA with muscularity of image (view images of muscular men vs. view images ofaverage men) as the between-participants factor. Results indicated that men’s self-rated body satisfaction decreased after viewing images of muscular men but did not change after viewing images of average men. Thus, it appears that men’s body satisfaction may be influenced by exposure to brief images of muscular models. These results are congruent with results of previous investigations of the effects of viewing images of thin models on women’s body satisfaction.

The relationship of personality factors and physical activity to body satisfaction in men

Some have suggested that the recent increase in cultural attention to the male body has resulted in men experiencing more body dissatisfaction and more concern with their physical appearance than in past decades. Presently, the very muscular mesomorph represents the standard of male physical attractiveness although it is a somatotype that most can achieve only by assiduous and strenuous exercise. Unfortunately, little research has considered the relationship between personality factors and body dissatisfaction in men despite the fact that a substantial and positive relationship has been found between neuroticism and body dissatisfaction in women. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate psychological and behavioural correlates of male body dissatisfaction using the data from two independent samples of men, a group of university undergraduate students and a group of regularly exercising men. Similar to women, it was found that neuroticism was a significant predictorof body dissatisfaction in both groups, however, it accounted for a substantially greater proportion of the variance (17%) among exercising men. An explanation may be that exercisers have a greater degree of body focus and appearance concerns, and therefore, emotionally reactive men within this group are more critical of the degree to which their current body image deviates from their ideal body image. Results also indicated that physical activity participation and body dissatisfaction are negatively related although it is not clear whether exercise promotes body satisfaction, or whether men who are satisfied with their appearance are likely to be more physically active.

Essay on “Immunity”.

Although research has found that body ideals presented by the media influence women's body dissatisfaction, less is known about media's influence on men's body satisfaction. An online survey examining media use, the drive for muscularity, and internalization of appearance and body shape ideals was given to a sample of 311 participants comprised of both men and women. Results indicated (a) the more time men and women reported watching television, the higher their reported drive for muscularity (b) total hours of viewing sports-related, image-focused, and entertainment television related to increased drive for muscularity in women (c) drive for muscularity in men related to watching image-focused television and reading men's health magazines, and (d) internalization of athletic attitudes towards appearance mediated the relationship between total television watched and drive for muscularity in both genders. Clinicians may wish to utilize these findings when treating men and women suffering from drive for muscularity and body dysmorphia.